The trial for the first Canadian man accused of attempting to leave the country to take part in in a terrorist activity has begun.

28-year-old Ismael Habib is on trial in Montreal

He is also facing charges of lying in order to obtain a passport.

The first witness was Melissa Ohnona, a passport office officer.

She testified that in June 2014, Habib made an urgent request to obtain a passport as soon as possible.

She said Habib seemed abnormal, and appeared to have applied copious amounts of self-tanning cream to his face. He also did not resemble the person on the photograph of the health card he presented as identification.

Ohnona said at this point, she called in a supervisor for assistance.

Habib is a resident of Gatineau and has been detained since February, when he was charged with threatening his girlfriend.

If convicted he can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.